Coupling



Aug. 4, H. SlPE 1,817,776

COUPLING Filed Oct. 23, 1928 n fn w( /4 M /4 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 4,1931` panying drawi UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE HARRY E. SDE, -OF N 'EWYOBKLN. Y.

coIrLINe Application illed October 23, 1928. Serial No. 814,443.

This invention relates to couplings and particularly-to devices of thisclass for use in joining adjacent ends of pipes, tubes, rods or thelike; and the object of the invention vis to provide a coupling body ofthe class specied involving a plurality of circumferentially andlongitudinally spaced'metallic ribs arranged at opposite end portions ofthe coupling and capable of flexing inan-inward direction in theoperation of securing a pipe, tube or the like in connection therewith;a further object being to provide a coupling of the class specifiedwherein the ribs constitute a part of the coupling body and means beingemployed intermediate the `ribs to provide yielding fillers or spacingmembers; al still further object being to provide a coupling involvingrib members formed independently of the main body of the device andarranged in the bore thereof in adjacent and abutting relation; and withthese and other-objects in view, the invention consists in a device ofthe class and for the purpose specified which is simple in.construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in .the following specification, ofwhich the accoms form a p art in which the separate parts o myimprovement are designated by suitable reference characters in each ofthe views, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form ofeouplingmade according to my inventionA and illustrating the method ofits use.

Fig. 2 is a side and sectional view of a modied form of coupling which Iemploy.

y Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showin another modification. Y Y

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the use of aresilient spacingbody intermediate the ribs of the coupling.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showinganother modification.

Fig. 6 is a side'and sectional view showing a modification of thestructure shown in Fig.

members shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the draw' ings.

In the construction shown inFigs. Y1 to 4 inclusive, my improvedcoupling consists of -a unitary body wherein the coupling ribs or finsare formed integral with the main body portion of the coupling. In Fig.1 of the drawings, the coupling 10 is provided in the bore thereof withlongitudinally spaced ribs or lins 11 and 12, the group of ribs 11 beingsubdivided from the ribs 12 by a central .enlarged body 13. rllheseparate ribs of each group 11 and 12 are normally inclined inwardly toa slight extent as clearly seen at the right of Fi 1 of the drawings andare adapted to be exed inwardly to a greater ldegree in the insertion ofa pipe or pipes 14 into the opposite ends of the coupling, one pipebeing shown in .position at the left of -sa1d ligure. This result isproduced by reason of the fact that the outside diameter of the pipe 14is slightly greater than the diameter of the ribs 11 and 12 so that asthe pipe 14 is moved inwardly into the coupling body, the ribs 11 and 12will iiex or yield inwardly to a sli htextent, as indicated at 15,lacing said ri s under compression to forci ly engagethe peripheralwalls of the pipe 14.

The inward movement of the pipe 141 is checked by the enlargement 13.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have shown a `coupling 16 which isidentical to the coupling 10 shown in Fig. 1 except that the ribscoupled at the opposite ends of the coupling are arrangedperpendicularlyV with respect lto the axis linstead of being inclinedlinwardly as in Fig. 1. The ribs 11a at one side ofthe coupling only areshown. In this construction, the ribs 11a of the coupling are flexedinthe operation of placing a pipe, tube or u the like therein as in Fig.1 of the drawings.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown/a coupling 17 whichdifferentiates from the couplings shown in Figs. 1 and 2 primarily 95 inthat the ribs of the coupling are of tapered construction, the samebeingtapered inwardly onto the axis of the coupling, and the ribs at one sideof .the coupling are designated at 11b andv are formed by inner andouter beveled compression, and the inside diameters theretubes are of arough or uneven nature.

of are preferably equal to the outside diameters'of the pipes or tubesinserted into the coupling, and in addition to aid in supporting theseparate ribs, these rings serve toinsure a more ositive seal incoupling pipes,

tubes or the li e together. While the use of the rings 21 is notessential, to edect a seal, it may be found practical to luse thesamewhen the peripheral surface of the pipes or In Figs. 5, 6 and 7,1 haveshown a modication wherein a tubular coupling body 22 is employed andinstead of Iforming the ribs integral with the tubular body, I arrangeon the inner wall of the tube 22, a plurality ot rib members 23 whichmay be formed of any suitable sheet material but preferably metal. Thesemembers are `L-sha ed in cross sectional form to provide a ange portion23a adapted to firmly engage the inner wall of the tube 22, and a liangeportion 236 extending angularly and inwardly withrespect to the liange23a and `preferably arranged 'at an angle to a perpendicular or radialline to form a normal inclination to the rods 23 formed by the flanges236. The inclination of said ribs is toward the center of the couplingin the arrangement o said rods at the opppsite sides of the coupling asclearly seen in ig. 5 of the drawings to produce a result similar tothat shown in Fig. 1.

It will also be noted that the ilanges 23a are arranged in abuttingrelation wlth the exception of the innermost members 230, the latterhaving slightly longer flanges 236 than the corresponding flanges ot'4the other Said flanges 236 abut at the central portion of the couplingas clearly seen to form a stop wall for limiting the inward movement ofthe pipes or tubes 14. The rib members 23 are flexed in placing thepipes or tubes in the coupling by virtue of the fact that the insidediameters of the flanges 236 are less than the outside diameters of thepipes. It will also be noted on 'a consideration of Fig. 7 of thedrawings, that the flan es 23a of the members 23-23c are referaly aredoutwardly to produce a slig tlyI greater 'diameter at the free edges 23dthereof` than at the inner edges 23e thereof, and the diameter at theedges 23d same. manner as the rings 21 employed in conjunction with theother structure shown. With my improved coupling construction, it willbe understood that pipes, tubes, rods or the like of any desired crosssectional form 'may be irmly coupled together, maintaining acomparatively rigid and strong and durable coupling between suchelements. pipes or other tubular bodies are employed through'whichliquids, gases and the like are to be passed or transmitted, thecoupling will serve to orm a positive seal'between adjacent ends of thepipes or tubes` by virtue of the multiplicity of rods employed and theirsep- 4 arate engagement with the periphery of the members employed, itbeing understood that each rib or fin has anindependent engagement withthe pipe or tube.

Where cases warrant it,'as a further safety, the rings of yieldingmaterial may be employed intermediate the ribs as hereinbefore setforth. While l have shown certain details of construction for carryingmy invention into edect, it will be understood that I' am notnecessarily limited to the structure herein disclosed, and variouschanges therein and modifications thereof ymay be made within the scopeofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit of my inventionor sacricing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what l claimas new and"desire tosecure by Let` tersnPatent, is

l r1. A coupling of the class described com: pri'sing a tubular member,-the bore of which is provided at the` end portions with two sets ofsimilar inwardly projecting flexible metallic ribs, the inside diametersof said ribs being less than the outside diameters ,of bodies insertable into the opposite ends of said coue pling in securing the samethereto, said ribs being flexed inwardly in the direction of the Whenroe'

central portion of thec coupling in the operation of securing saidbodies thereto, placing said r1b members under compression to securesaid bodies against displacement from said coupling, said ribs beingarranged circumferentially of the coupling to form a seal between thecoupling and said bodies, and the recesses formed by said ribscontaining members composed of yielding material.

2. A coupling member for `use in coupling adjacent ends of two bodiescomprising a tube, inwardl extending metallic rib members arrange in thebore of said' tube and spaced longitudinally thereofmin a closelyarranged relation, and rings of lyielding material disposed between saidrib members.

3. A coupling of the class described comprising a tubular body member,the bore of which is provided with inwardly projecting andlongitudinally spaced, annular, flexible, metallic ribs having an insidediameter less than the outsidediameter of a body to be connected tovsaid coupling whereby when said Y coupling is forced onto said body,said ribs will yield inwardly with respect to the coupling to securesaid body against displacement from the coupling, and said ribs beingcircumferentially continuous to form a seal between the coupling andsaid body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname this 19th day of October 1928.

- HARRY E. SIPE.

